Harris Drive [8-28-12]

In the early morning hours of August 28th, the Oceanside Fire Department was alerted to a report of two cars on fire in the driveway of 27 Harris Drive, just off of Lawrence Avenue. Oceanside’s dispatcher provided the additional that the cars were said to be immediately next to the home and that the house in question was a “collier’s mansion.” Nassau County Police Officers from the Fourth Precinct had been called to the scene first and confirmed the working car fires and alerted the fire department of this. Oceanside’s Chief of Department, Tommy Bettes Jr. [241], was the first one on scene and took position across the street from the home. The Chief’s first requests were for an engine to arrive as soon as possible before the fire spread to the home and for LIPA to the scene. Effected by the fire, were the power lines from pole to house that posed a serious risk for firefighters on scene. Moments later, the first due engine arrived on scene [243] and put two lines into place. Ladder 2442 was the first due truck on scene and helped in extinguishing the cars and also checking the inside of the home for extension. Despite the heavy fire load from the cars and the closeness of the cars to the home, no fire extended into the home. The fire was contained to the two cars, which were both a loss. The owner of the home was transported to South Nassau by Oceanside Ambulance 242 after his early attempts to extinguish the fire. All units were up in around one hour.